Red-breasted Merganser
(Mergus serrator)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Ecology • Distribution • Taxonomy
Conservation Status |
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| IUCN Red List | LC - Least Concern |
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| NatureServe | N5B, N5N - Secure Breeding and Nonbreeding SNRB - Unranked Breeding |
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| Minnesota | not listed |
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Description |
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Size |
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19″ to 26″ in length 30″ wingspan |
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Voice |
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Similar Species |
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Habitat |
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Large rivers, lakes, especially with rocky shorelines and islands |
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Ecology |
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Migration |
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Early March to late May and early September to mid-December |
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Nesting |
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Food |
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Distribution |
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Occurrence |
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Common migrant, uncommon breeder |
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Maps |
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The Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union All Seasons Species Occurrence Map |
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Taxonomy |
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| Class | Aves (birds) | ||
Order |
Anseriformes (waterfowl) | ||
Family |
Anatidae (ducks, geese, and swans) | ||
| Subfamily | Anatinae (dabbling ducks) | ||
Genus |
Mergus (greater mergansers) | ||
Subordinate Taxa |
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The Greenland population was formerly treated as the subspecies Mergus serrator schioleri. However, the differences are not enough to justify the separation. There are no subspecies currently recognized. |
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Synonyms |
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Visitor Photos |
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Mike Poeppe |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
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Slideshows |
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| Red-breasted Merganser Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren |
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| Red-breasted Merganser Ed McVicker |
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| Red-breasted Merganser JMC Nature Photos |
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Visitor Videos |
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Other Videos |
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| BTO Bird ID - Goosander and Red-breasted Merganser BTOvideo |
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About
Published on Aug 9, 2012 Identifying the two large sawbills, Goosander and Red-breasted Merganser, can be pretty straight-forward when confronted with male birds. However, the females, or redheads as they are more often called, can be much more difficult. This, the latest ID video gives useful pointers on how to confidently tell them apart. |
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| middelste zaagbek mergus merganser red-breasted martijnlovesbach |
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About
Uploaded on Feb 15, 2007 middelste zaagbek mergus merganser red-breasted |
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| Red breasted merganser diving and catching food MakaryKowacki |
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About
Uploaded on Jul 11, 2010 Red breasted merganser diving and catching food. Location: Georgian Bay at Cyprus Lake Campground in the Bruce Peninsula National Park. by: Makary Kowacki |
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| Red Brested Merganser TheWaterfowlersWorkshop |
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About
Published on Feb 10, 2014 Red Breasted Mergansers off LBI NJ |
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| Red-breasted Merganser Woodfibrebirder |
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About
Published on Mar 10, 2014 Red-breasted Merganser - Squamish River Estuary |
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Visitor Sightings |
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| Mike Poeppe 4/19/2023 |
Location: between La Crescent and Hokah, MN |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
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